If you were a race fan back in the day, you’ll recall the name Jon Berard as having been a race driver – most notably for the ARMY race team. Jon has recently gotten into this whole vintage thing, and started digging through his old pictures. I should mention he is a photographer now. Good thing he had the camera back then, because these are some rare shots. My thanks to Jon for sending them in.
First up is this photo of Bob Elsner shortly befor he became part of the Arctic Cat factroy team. This shot was taken after winning the big race in Shawano, Wisconsin and $1,000!
The guy about to go off the track is Hollas Zockie (badly mispelled?) #10, a great racer from Oskosh Wi. Note the crude looking Blizzard behind him. Possibly at Neenah Wisconsin.
The big accident at the Milwaukee Mile in I believe, 1974. So many sleds were totaled in that one accident! It was huge – yet this is one of very few pictures of the twisted wreckage and carnage from that day. Jon dropped off a couple more that can be seen at the Hall of Fame in St. Germain.
This lovely lady is Jon’s wife. She was racing right along side him. Behind her is Dick Bahr, who worked his motor magic for the Hayes boys for most of thier career, including Stan Haye’s 74 SnoPro championship, and for both Stan and Doug at Mercury. One of the kids on the right is none other than Al Fenhaus who would go on to be an Eagle River champ.
Side note: When Al was 11 years old, he helped Bobby Donahue pull an all nighter fixing his stock 338 Yamaha after Bobby totaled it in turn one. Yamaha flew up a tub from Chicago to Eagle River and they worked all night, had the sled ready to go by 8:00 AM.
When Al was about 7 or 8 his Dad (Elroy Jr.) had him break in his 340 mod Polaris in the back yard. When Al was 12, John Dittbrender (USSA champion 1976) had Al break in his 340 liquid stock Merc. Al and Jon would race up and down the corn field breaking in the sleds. He had the 340, Jon had a 440. Jon says that little schiester would pass him in the corners with a non studded 340. Very talented individual.
That’s Sno*Jet great Jim Adeam, about to put a whoopn’ on that poor Snow-Twister.